Megan Madison will be attending the Hudson Children’s Book Festival: https://hudsonchildrensbookfestival.com/authors-illustrators/
Register Here: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/calendar/spring-antiracist-family-central-library-info-20240504
Join Antiracist Parenting 101 with Tabitha and Adam for this bi-annual library event that promotes and models age-appropriate antiracist practices for families and young children, including celebrating and affirming all races and identities, how to talk about injustice/things that are fair and unfair in our society, and promoting/modeling ways young children can engage in activism and community service.
Activities include:
Pack Your Antiracist Travel Bag
Puppetize Yourself: Puppet Making
Games/Story Time
Map Your Community: Understanding Systems with kids
Design Your Own Equitable Playground
Art Station
Parent Connection: time to share and build community
Ben & Jerry's Ice cream party
Book giveaway and raffle
There will also be a special guest performance by Lavender Blues!
Tabitha (she/hers) and Adam (he/his) are co-parents and life partners to kids ages 4 and 9. Tabitha is an organizer, writer, and antiracist parenting educator. She writes the column Raising Anti-racist Kids and also pens work for Parents, Good Housekeeping and others. Her book projects include Little Activists, and book chapters for 100 Diverse Voices on Parenthood and A Year of Black Joy. For her work at the intersection of activism and culture change, Tabitha was named one of Glamour Magazine's Women of The Year in 2017 and was named one of the 200 Women Who Will Change The Way You See The World. Adam is a peace educator and nonprofit leader. He has played a wide range of roles in local and national education nonprofits for over 20 years, from being the co-founder and Executive Director of an arts education organization in NYC to being the Co-Executive Director of a national nonprofit focused on school climate. He was also a member of the team that founded a community elementary school in The Bronx. Adam has a Masters degree in Peace Education from Columbia University. He works with a variety of groups to dismantle white supremacy in arts education and Jewish institutions. Tabitha and Adam lead workshops and trainings in the areas of antiracist parenting, peace education and antiracism with library systems, educational and religious institutions, summer camp programs, media companies and more. Find them at tabiijuststrategies.com and @antiracistparenting101 on Instagram.
Ice cream sponsored by Ben and Jerry's. Antiracist Family Day is supported in part by the City's First Readers Initiative of the NY City Council.
Save the date! Sugar Hill Children’s Museum!
Jessica will be at the 2024 Poughkeepsie Book Festival
Saturday, March 30 from 10 AM – 3 PM
Dutchess Community College’s Falcon Hall, 53 Pendell Road, Poughkeepsie
Free to attend. No registration required.View directions and DCC Campus Map
Meet and greet authors and illustrators (covering reading ages from preschool to Young Adult), take your picture with your favorite costumed book characters, and make some fun crafts. Books will be available to purchase, and to have signed by the authors and illustrators who made them.
In honor of Black History Month, we’ll be visiting Brooklyn Friends School for an interactive presentation and storytime about skin color, diversity, race, injustice, and activism! During our interactive read-aloud, we’ll explore questions like: What do you love about your skin? What are some of your identities? What unfair things do you notice? What can you say and do when you notice unfair things? Let’s talk about it!
Join Megan and Jessica, authors of the book Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race for a special MLK Day storytime, discussion and art activity at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum on January 15th at 4pm! Did you know that Martin Luther King Jr. was not colorblind? He believed that it was important to talk about skin color, race and identity so that we could fix big problems like racism. And just like in the book Our Skin, MLK said “That’s not right!” to things that were unfair, like war. Let’s explore age-appropriate ways to talk about race, racism and a world without war. Go to brooklynkids.org for tickets and info. See you Monday!
Don’t miss one of the best family events of the season! Meet forty of your favorite Brooklyn authors and illustrators as they share their latest books. This free event features storybooks, picture books, chapter books, and graphic novels—fiction and nonfiction—for young book lovers from preschoolers to middle schoolers. Highlights include books in Mandarin and Hindi, plus a book celebrating Diwali, which falls on November 12 this year.
Throughout the day, children can chat with authors and illustrators, get books signed, enjoy a performance by The Band Books, and participate in book-related art projects.
Participants include Adam Auerbach, Gabrielle Balkan, Artie Bennett, Molly Brooks, Keith Henry Brown, Matthew Burgess, Nina Crews, Pauline David-Sax, Karina Nicole González, John Patrick Green, Rasha Hamid, Michael Hearst, Kate Hosford, Melissa Iwai, Dan-ah Kim, Elliot Kreloff, Caron Levis, Laura Ljungkvist, Megan Madison, Denis Markell, Shaelyn McDaniel, Yona McDonough, Michele Wong McSween, Kate Milford, Yevgenia Nayberg, Christopher Silas Neal, Alexandra Penfold, Jessica Ralli, Isabel Roxas, Misa Saburi, Dan Saks, Julia Sarcone-Roach, Stephen Savage, Anu Sehgal, Lauren Semmer, Latia Smith, Joshua David Stein, Tara Nicole Whitaker, Katie Yamasaki, Hyewon Yum, and Gracey Zhang.
This event is free and open to the public.
Join Brooklyn Children’s Museum for the third annual Anti-Racist Family Day, in partnership with Brooklyn Public Library as part of Banned Book Week!
Featuring storytelling with BPL librarians, book giveaways and activities with local authors Laleña Garcia and Megan Madison, interactive family hip-hop performances by Lavender Blues and Fyütch, and a protest art-making activity.
Participants will learn about age-appropriate anti-racist practices, including celebrating and affirming different races and identities, talking about injustice and fairness in our society, and modeling ways young children can engage in activism.
Come visit me at my first ever author signing event at #alaac23 - I’ll be in the @penguin booth No. 2811 at 1pm on Sunday, June 25th, along with some really amazing authors.
American Libraries Association Conference, 2023
https://www.ala.org/alsc/alsc-annual-conference-education-programming
Miss Caitlyn notices that people have lots of different skin colors and wonders why? Using the book Our Skin: A First Conversation about Race, participants will learn about skin, melanin, race and racism. Throughout the workshop, young people will notice, ask about, learn about and celebrate their differences while feeling empowered to use these steps to make a difference in their world.
Audience members will be enrolled as detectives to help Miss Caitlyn explore the differences in the room - particularly our racial differences - and learn tools for navigating difference and the prejudices that sometimes come with it.
Audience members will be enrolled as detectives within the workshop who help Miss Caitlyn practice the four steps of exploring difference: Notice. Ask. Learn. Celebrate! We will explore questions like:
What color is your skin?
Why do we all have different colored skin?
What is racism?
What do you do when you notice someone is different from you?
Ultimately, families will leave feeling empowered to engage in conversations around difference with tools to continue these conversations with young people in a variety of circumstances.
We are very excited to have you back at our in-person events at BPL. Please be considerate of your fellow guests and stay home if you’re feeling unwell. Also, consider wearing a mask when attending indoor BPL Presents events. You’ll be doing your part to help keep yourself and everyone healthy and safe.
Busboys and Poets Books Presents FIRST CONVERSATION SERIES
Join us to explore children's storytelling, representation, and beginning important conversations.
Megan’s stories for children are based on the research that race, gender, consent, and body positivity should be discussed with toddlers on up, this read-aloud board book series offers adults the opportunity to begin important conversations with young children in an informed, safe, and supported way.
Developed by experts in the fields of early childhood and activism against injustice, this topic-driven board book offers clear, concrete language and beautiful imagery that young children can grasp and adults can leverage for further discussion.
While young children are avid observers and questioners of their world, adults often shut down or postpone conversations on complicated topics because it's hard to know where to begin. Research shows that talking about issues like race and gender from the age of two not only helps children understand what they see, but also increases self-awareness, self-esteem, and allows them to recognize and confront things that are unfair, like discrimination and prejudice.
This first book in the series begins the conversation on race, with a supportive approach that considers both the child and the adult. Stunning art accompanies the simple and interactive text, and the backmatter offers additional resources and ideas for extending this discussion.
Megan Pamela Ruth Madison is joining on the Busboys stage for a celebration and book discussion.This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of The First Conversation Series will be available for purchase before and during the event. Please note that this event will not be livestreamed.
We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books.
Megan Pamela Ruth Madison is a lifelong student of radical Black feminism and an early childhood educator. She holds an MS in early childhood education from Dominican University and a BA in studies in religion from the University of Michigan. She is currently pursuing her PhD at Brandeis University's Heller School for Social Policy. When she's not working on finishing up her dissertation, she works as a trainer for the Center for Racial Justice in Education, the Human Root, and the New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute, facilitating workshops for teachers on race, gender, and sexuality.
Ijumaa Jordan is a fat, Black, cis-gendered woman (she, her, her’s) daily engaging in the beautiful struggle of life, doing the internal and external work to abolish systems of oppression such as racism, sexism, transphobia, and classism, etc. Ijumaa shows up for this work with intensity and passion, being joyful, thinking critically, and holding a learning space with care and grace. She loves afternoon naps and snacks, you can usually find her online looking serious and laughing loudly.
As an early education consultant, presenter, and speaker, Ijumaa focuses on anti-racism in early childhood, play and equity, reflective practice, and culturally relevant/responsive practices and policies.
Brooklyn MUSEUM
Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion, 1st Floor
The annual Brooklyn Children's Book Fair has returned! Bring your family and meet forty of your favorite Brooklyn authors and illustrators as they share their latest books. This free event features storybooks, picture books, and graphic novels—including fiction, nonfiction, and poetry—for book lovers from preschool through the middle grades.
Throughout the day, children can enjoy a chat with an author or illustrator, get a book signed, and have fun drawing and coloring.
Participants include Selina Alko, Adam Auerbach, Gabrielle Balkan, Kristen Balouch, Melinda Beck, Artie Bennett, Molly Brooks, Keith Henry Brown, Matthew Burgess, Ruth Chan, Nina Crews, John Patrick Green, Abby Hanlon, Michael Hearst, Tad Hills, Kate Hosford, Melissa Iwai, Caron Levis, Laura Ljungkvist, Torrey Maldonado, Denis Markell, Yona McDonough, Kate Milford, Yevgenia Nayberg, Christopher Silas Neal, George O’Connor, Jessica Ralli, Julia Sarcone-Roach, Adam Rubin, Misa Saburi, Stephen Savage, Amy Schwartz, Aimée Sicuro, Hannah Stark, Joshua David Stein, Lesley Ware, Katie Yamasaki, James Yang, Hyewon Yum, and Gracey Zhang.
Brooklyn Public Library presents a free program on the Brooklyn Children's Museum rooftop in conjunction with the Brooklyn Book Festival. Join us for a live storytimes, a protest art build station, book giveaways, and more!
Participants will learn about age-appropriate antiracist practices, including celebrating and affirming different races and identities, talking about injustice in our society, and modeling ways young children can engage in activism!
Join Little Chairs, Big Differences in a gathering with Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli!
Our Skin: Talking About Race with Young Children
Young children notice a lot—including skin color, race, and even injustice and racism. It can be hard to find the right words to answer their questions or to start a conversation about race. But when we don’t talk about it, children often come to their own conclusions, which can include bias and stereotypes because of the world we live in. In this one-hour workshop, the creators of the book Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race help early childhood educators learn to start simple conversations that can help young children make sense of their world and even recognize and speak up about injustice.
Tired of extremists banning books? Let’s do something about it. Join Stella Parton (who recently spoke out against attacks on her sister Dolly’s Imagination Library), authors of some of the most banned books in the country, and families fighting for the freedom to learn for a one-of-a-kind virtual event! It’s a Read-In! While you watch, post a photo of yourself with your favorite banned book using the hashtag #BannedBookChallenge (we might even show some of the best during the event!).
Come for Stella and the books -- and stay for specific ways to take action and get involved. You don’t want to miss this! Featured authors include Brad Meltzer, author of I Am Rosa Parks and I Am Martin Luther King, Jr.; Leslea Newman, author of Heather Has Two Mommies; Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, authors of Our Skin, I.W. Gregorio, author of None of the Above, and Nikki Grimes, author of Ordinary Hazards.
Our amazing event partners include Women’s March, PEN America, We Need Diverse Books, and dozens of parent groups fighting book bans in their local communities.
Co-sponsored by Abbot Public Library and the Marblehead Racial Justice Team
Young children notice a lot—including skin color, race, and even injustice and racism. It can be hard to find the right words to answer their questions or to start a conversation about race. But when we don’t talk about it, children often come to their own conclusions, which can include bias and stereotypes because of the world we live in. In this one--hour workshop, Jessica Ralli and Megan Madison, the creators of the book Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race help parents, caregivers and educators learn to start simple conversations that can help young children make sense of their world and even recognize and speak up about injustice.
This program will be offered in person and online via Zoom. Space is limited to join in person.
To attend via Zoom, please register using this link: https://tinyurl.com/Zoom-Mar-2022-Conversations
To attend in person, please register below using this platform.
Join co-authors Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, along with illustrator Isabel Roxas in this VIRTUAL celebration of the launch of their new book Yes! No! A First Conversation About Consent, the third book in the First Conversations board book series for children ages 2-6 from RISE X Penguin Workshop.
Based on the research that gender, race, consent, and bodies should be discussed with toddlers on up, this read-aloud board book series offers adults the opportunity to begin important conversations with young children in an informed, safe, and supported way. Stunning art accompanies the simple and interactive text, and the back matter offers additional resources and ideas for extending this discussion.
A book discussion with BPL Outreach Librarian Sheneatha Frison will be followed by a read-aloud by the authors. Then a Q & A with the authors and illustrator will allow participants to get firsthand tips on how to engage young children in conversations about consent using this book and other recommended resources.
Follow the series on Instagram @First_Conversations.
Please register for this free Zoom event. Registered audience members will receive a Zoom link prior to the event.
A recording of the event with captions will be emailed to registered participants.
IN CONVERSATION Megan Madison & Jessica Ralli, co-authors of Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race
Listen in as Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, co-authors and experts in the fields of early childhood and activism against injustice, discuss their first book in a new topic-driven board book series offering clear, concrete language that young children can grasp and adults can use to begin important conversations in an informed, safe, and supported way.
*$50 suggested donation
Purchase Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race
Brooklyn Book Festival is coming to BCM Thursday, Sept 30! Join Brooklyn Book Festival in conjunction with Brooklyn Public Library on our rooftop for a free program that promotes and models age-appropriate anti-racist practices for families and young children.
Topics include celebrating and affirming different races and identities, talking about injustice/things that are fair and unfair in our society, and promoting/modeling ways young children can engage in activism.
Participate in a in-person storytime, design a self portrait, check out a book to take home, and even win a book of your own! Tickets for 9/30 are free - reserve them at www.brooklynkids.org/tickets
Participants include Selina Alko, Artie Bennett, Keith Henry Brown, Jon Burgerman, Matthew Burgess, Ruth Chan, Brian Floca, John Patrick Green, Abby Hanlon, Michael Hearst, Kate Hosford, Melissa Iwai, Caron Levis, Laura Ljungkvist, Denis Markell, Yona McDonough, Aaron Meshon, Kate Milford, Lorraine Nam, Yevgenia Nayberg, Michael Northrop, Jessica Ralli, Julia Sarcone-Roach, Hannah Salyer, Stephen Savage, Amy Schwartz, Hannah Stark, Katie Yamasaki, James Yang, and Hyewon Yum.
This event takes place outdoors. We’re following procedures and guidelines laid out by the CDC and local health officials, including practicing social distancing for all activities. Masks are required for all adults and children over the age of 2.
